An investigation commissioned by the Vatican has cleared Cardinal Gérald Lacroix, the archbishop of Quebec City, of allegations of sexual misconduct. The allegations against Cardinal Lacroix emerged in January when he was named as an alleged perpetrator in a class-action lawsuit alleging sexual abuse by clergy and staff.
The Vatican appointed retired Quebec Superior Court judge André Denis in February to investigate the allegations against Cardinal Lacroix. The report on Denis’s preliminary canonical investigation was completed on May 6 and transferred to Pope Francis.
According to the Vatican, Denis’s report did not find any actions that amount to misconduct or abuse, and no further canonical procedure is expected. The alleged incidents involving Cardinal Lacroix took place between 1987 and 1988 in Quebec City when the plaintiff was 17 years old. The claims of sexual touching have not been tested in court.
The Vatican’s conclusion exonerating Cardinal Lacroix comes as a relief to the senior leader of Quebec’s Roman Catholic Church and his supporters. The investigation and subsequent findings have brought clarity to a situation that had cast a shadow over Cardinal Lacroix’s reputation. The Vatican’s thorough examination of the allegations underscores the importance of addressing such serious accusations with diligence and transparency.